Operating Support Grant Program
Funding Amount
$1.2 million total distributed ($25,500 average per organization)
Deadline
Deadline not published
Grant Type
Foundation
Deadline history & next window
- Cycle
- Annual
- Tracked since
- April 2026
Source: the cycle recorded on this listing. Confirm dates with the funder.
Can we apply?
Check your organization against each line. Taken from the listing; confirm with the funder's guidelines.
Eligible organizations
- Nonprofit arts organizations
Geography
- In Shelby County
Other requirements
- Part of ARTSmemphis' established grantee pipeline
Overview
Geographic Scope: Shelby County, Tennessee
ARTSmemphis provides unrestricted funding to local arts organizations through its Operating Support grant program. These grants enable organizations to continue their vital work in the community.
Award Details:
- Total awarded: $1.2 million
- Number of recipients: 47 arts organizations
- Average grant per organization: ~$25,500
- Funded programs serve over 2 million participants
Eligibility:
- Nonprofit arts organizations
- Based in Shelby County
- Part of ARTSmemphis' established grantee pipeline
Equity & Diversity Focus:
- 36% of grant recipients are led by people of color
- More than 50% of participants served by grantee organizations are people of color
Funding Uses:
- Unrestricted support for organizational operations and programs
Contact:
- ARTSmemphis
- 575 S. Mendenhall Road, Memphis, TN 38117
- info@artsmemphis.org
- 901.578.ARTS
How to Apply
Application Process
Detailed application instructions not provided in available materials. For specific application requirements and deadlines, contact ARTSmemphis directly or visit artsmemphis.org.
What Artsmemphis actually gave
Source: IRS Form 990, 2025
- Grants in 2025
- 46
- Total given
- $1.6M
- Median grant
- $19K
- Range
- $6,250–$381K
- By dollars: Tennessee 100%. Top recipient cities: Memphis, TN; Cordova, TN; Germantown, TN.
- 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
- 7% of recipients were new grantees, not repeat recipients.
Example grants
Memphis Brooks Museum of Art · Memphis, TN
Operating support & enhancement
$381K
Metal Museum Inc · Memphis, TN
Operating support & enhancement
$116K
Opera Memphis · Memphis, TN
Operating support
$83K
Soulsville Foundation · Memphis, TN
Operating support
$81K
Ballet Memphis · Memphis, TN
Operating support
$63K
Focus Areas & Funding Uses
Fields of Work
- Arts
- Nonprofits
- Unrestricted nonprofits
- Operating support
Categories
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